From: albasani.25.getme@xoxy.net   
      
   This is interesting but I, too, know just enough to be dangerous...   
      
   How does one tell the difference between a regulated and unregulated   
   supply? Do they say or do you just have to measure the unloaded voltage   
   and guess?   
      
   Is there an inexpensive part from Radio Shack that can 'fix' an   
   unregulated supply? I've heard the term 'voltage regulators' but don't   
   know much more than that.   
      
   If not, where is a good place to find a rugulated 12V supply like you   
   mentioned?   
      
   Thank you for this information.   
      
   Mike   
      
      
      
   On Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:28:45 -0500, Jasen Betts  wrote:   
      
   >> What I AM confused about is why I plug a 12VDC power brick in and   
   >> measure it with my tester to find they read about 15 or 16 VDC with no   
   >> load. I know cars supply about 12V when off and perhaps 13-14V when   
   >> running.  I do NOT want to damage anything and am concerned that 16V   
   >> is too high unless this is normal and it will be less when it is   
   >> actually powering something.   
   >   
   > this is the difference between a regulated and an unregulated supply.   
   > a regulated supply will not produce a voltage significantly higher   
   > than its rating. unregulated supplies may produce 50% more when not   
   > being used to full capacity.   
   >   
   >> Any comments or things to watch out for would be appreciated. I was   
   >> thinking of charging my GPS for which I do not have a house charger   
   >> for and things like that.   
   >   
   > start with a regulated 12V 2A wall wart (last time I looked that was   
   > the sweet spot on the price-cost curve, and that should be enough to   
   > power pocket-sized appliances like phone and GPS chargers) and wire   
   > it to a lighter socket.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)